Portsmouth looks to reduce non-local traffic to make neighbourhoods safer and nicer

Portsmouth City Council is looking to create the Active Pompey Neighbourhood pilot in Southsea designed to reduce non-local traffic, make the roads more pleasant to travel on, and pavements safer and nicer to walk along.

The council is asking residents that live in or regularly visit the area to share how they travel through the area, when they walk and cycle, and when they use the car.

Ways to make the neighbourhood more friendly and safer for people to travel in could include planters in the road to restrict most motor traffic (termed modal filters), traffic calming, one-way streets, more trees and plants to make walking more pleasant, and new crossings for people walking and on bikes.

The area selected for the Active Pompey Neighbourhoods pilot already includes traffic-calming measures and with four primary schools and one secondary school views are being sought from pupils who attend the schools and their parents and carers about how school journeys can be improved and older children can be encouraged to walk or cycle to school.

Cllr Lynne Stagg, Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation, said, “We have chosen this area because we have had many comments from residents over the years about through traffic and concerns about safety. We have listened and want to work with everyone that lives, works or travels through this area to solve this problem.

“We want people to be able to leave the car at home when they can for short journeys, and this new Active Pompey Neighbourhood is another step towards making that choice easier.

“If successful, people will feel empowered to walk and cycle more in their neighbourhood and they’ll benefit in many ways, they’ll feel healthier, air quality will be improved, and they’ll save money. This area could also be a model for other areas in the future.”

Creating an Active Pompey Neighbourhood is in line with the council’s plan to improve air quality in the city and encourage people to walk, cycle and take public transport more frequently.

The survey is open until 13 November 2022. Once the results have been analysed the council’s team will design suggested changes to the streets and seek more views on the planned changes before they are put in.